Delta plane to New Jersey forced to return to Boston and man’s carry-on bag searched by explosives search after police received an anonymous tip that he threatened the flight
Delta plane to New Jersey forced to return to Boston and man’s carry-on bag searched by explosives search after police received an anonymous tip that he threatened the flight
- In the incident, an unidentified male passenger of the Embraer 175 was escorted, with his two carry-ons searched by explosives squads in Bay State.
- The search was also conducted by bomb-sniffing dogs, but nothing of note was found and the passenger escaped charges.
- An investigation is underway into the US domestic flight — identified as Delta Flight 5770 — and officials have so far revealed little about the status of that probe
A Delta flight from Boston to Newark had to divert mid-flight back to Massachusetts after authorities received an anonymous tip that a passenger on board had threatened the safety of the plane.
An unidentified male passenger was escorted off the Embraer 175 with his two carry-ons searched by bombing officials at Boston Logan Airport on Sunday.
The search was also conducted by bomb-sniffing dogs, but nothing of note was found and the passenger escaped charges.
An investigation related to the US domestic flight — identified as Delta Airlines Flight 5770 — is now underway, with officials so far revealing little about the status of that probe, or the situation regarding the unidentified man which was reported.
Massachusetts police said the flight – which should have lasted just over an hour – was disrupted after “an anonymous third party” called police to suggest the passenger had made “threats related to the safety” of the plane .
Scroll down for video:
A Delta flight from Boston to Newark was forced to return to Massachusetts on Sunday after authorities received an anonymous tip that a passenger on board had made threats to the safety of its occupants. Here is another plane seen at Boston Logan International Airport in 2021
In the incident, the plane looped around the southeastern part of Massachusetts shortly after takeoff at 5:30 p.m., and a male passenger was led away and his two carry-ons were searched by explosives officers. The search turned up nothing and the man was not charged
A spokesman for the state police provided some additional insight into the still-covert incident on Sunday evening, in which the plane made a full loop around the southeastern part of the northeastern state shortly after takeoff at 5:30 p.m.
Delta Airlines Flight 5770, Boston to Newark, returned to Logan Airport this afternoon after an anonymous third-party caller reported to a New Jersey police station that a passenger aboard the plane had allegedly made threats related to the safety of the aircraft. run,” Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said.
Several other officers from the Massport fire department and state police waited for the Boston Logan man, as well as multiple officers from the state police bomb squad.
A search of the passenger’s two carry-on bags by officials and their explosive-detecting K-9s began, and no hazards were found, the statement said.
It also added that after the passenger and his luggage were removed, the plane took off again for its destination at Newark International after a delay of about three hours.
After that temporary grounding, flight records show that the plane – which could accommodate some 78 passengers – took off from Boston for the second time at 9:43 p.m. ET, before landing less than an hour later at 10:34 p.m. Jersey landed.
As of early Monday, no passengers have come forward to describe their experiences during the unplanned detour, nor have officials mentioned or offered anything to identify the removed man, nor have they confirmed whether he has been released.
After the passenger and his luggage were removed, the plane took off again for its destination at Newark International, officials said, causing a delay of more than three hours.
According to the officials’ statement, the man’s only luggage had been the two carry-ons, and none of his luggage had been checked.
Early Monday morning, officials were still investigating the incident — with Delta representatives referring all questions to Republic Airways, which operated the flight for Delta.
Republic Airways has since apologized to passengers for the more than three-hour delay, but like Delta has yet to issue a proper explanation.
As of Monday, it is still unclear who passed on the tip about the passenger and what prompted them to do so.
Officials say they are still investigating the incident, which took place during the busy summer travel season.
Delta has not yet issued a formal statement.